Chapter 188 Yuwen Ye... He really has good taste.

"Please rise."

Empress Jiang's gentle and peaceful voice rang out in the palace, adding a touch of majesty. Shang Ruyi slowly rose, only to see the Empress raise her hand and say, "Sit down."

She apologized and sat on a couch to the left of the Empress.

Empress Jiang smiled and looked at her, saying, "I missed you a little today, so I summoned you to the palace to talk. I hope I haven't disturbed you."

Shang Ruyi hurriedly replied, "It is my honor that Your Majesty summoned me to the palace. How could you say that I am 'disturbing'? I am not worthy of such a title."

Empress Jiang waved her hand and laughed, "If it were any other lady, I would have summoned her to the palace, but you—I always feel that you are not quite the same as them."

At this point, she probably realized that her words had been a bit too harsh, and added, "Besides, your family just had a major incident, and now the Duke is leaving the Eastern Capital to take up his post in Taiyuan. Has he left yet?"

"Your Majesty, my father-in-law just set off this morning."

"I heard that Feng Chen is also going to war tomorrow?"

"yes."

"So, you're the only one in your family in Dongdu?"

"And my third brother is studying in Luoyang. My father-in-law has decided not to take him to Shanxi to take up his post, so I have to take care of his daily life."

"Then you must have worked hard."

For some reason, the two of them really acted like relatives and sisters-in-law, chatting about everyday life. But the more they talked, the more uneasy Shang Ruyi felt. After all, she was not facing an ordinary woman, but the Empress, the mother of the nation. The Empress had summoned her to the palace and traveled so far. Was it really just to gossip about some family matters?

But Empress Jiang really only talked to her about everyday matters, and even said with a smile, "I heard that the third son of the Yuwen family is now at the right age, and boys at this age are the most mischievous."

As soon as she finished speaking, as if in response, a series of footsteps sounded outside the hall.

Then, a somewhat childish voice said, "Mother!"

Shang Ruyi hurriedly turned her head and saw a child run in from outside the main hall. He landed in the Empress's arms like a heavy boulder, hugging her and giggling. The Empress was so startled by the child that she almost fell backward. She frowned slightly, but could not hide the loving expression on her face. She lowered her head and smiled, "Fei'er, why are you here?"

This child was none other than King Zhao, Chu Chengfei, whom he had met once before in Yanmen County.

Upon seeing this, Shang Ruyi prepared to rise and bow.

Chu Chengfei, however, nestled in her mother's arms and acted coquettishly, looking up at her and saying, "My sister brought me here."

"oh?"

Upon hearing this, Empress Jiang raised her head.

Upon hearing this, Shang Ruyi's heart sank instinctively. She quickly stood up, only to see another graceful figure enter the main hall—Princess Chu Ruoyan of the Crescent Moon. Despite the cold weather and her thick, bright red cloak, she still appeared slender and graceful, her steps light as a moon fairy. The fluffy white fur adorning her snow hat further accentuated her plump figure, red lips, and white teeth, making her exceptionally charming and lovely.

Upon seeing her, Shang Ruyi's already tense breathing became even more strained.

She strode quickly to the center of the hall and bowed to Empress Jiang, saying, "Your subject greets Your Majesty."

Empress Jiang smiled and said, "Why are you here too?"

Chu Ruoyan said, "Your subject heard that the Empress Dowager summoned Lady Yuwen to the palace, so I came here specifically to see her."

After saying that, she turned to look at Shang Ruyi.

At this moment, Shang Ruyi hurriedly walked up to her and bowed, saying, "Greetings, Your Highness the Princess." Then, she turned to Chu Chengfei, who was still nestled in the Empress's arms, and said, "Greetings, Your Highness Prince Zhao."

Before anyone else could speak, Chu Chengfei turned around and looked at her. A light suddenly flashed in his big eyes, and he pointed at her, saying, "I remember you!"

Empress Jiang looked down at him: "What?"

Chu Chengfei said crisply, "You're the one who delivered the medicine last time! You almost disturbed my sister and Brother Fengchen!"

The hall fell silent for a moment.

Shang Ruyi stood there awkwardly. Although she hadn't been caught red-handed, having it brought up again after several months still made her feel ashamed. Empress Jiang glanced at her, then at her youngest son in her arms, and smiled faintly, saying, "Fei'er, don't be rude. This is your brother Fengchen's wife, not someone delivering medicine."

"lady?"

Chu Chengfei's small head clearly couldn't hold too much complexity, and he was immediately dumbfounded: "Then sister—"

Empress Jiang calmly interrupted him: "Someone, take Prince Zhao down to play."

Several palace maids waiting outside immediately came in and coaxed Prince Zhao out. When Chu Chengfei passed by Shang Ruyi with a pout, he wrinkled his nose at her, clearly indicating that he had already categorized himself as being in opposition to him and his sister.

Shang Ruyi couldn't help but smile bitterly.

At this moment, Chu Ruoyan, who had been silent all along and whose face was slightly flushed, walked up to Shang Ruyi and said softly, "Thank you for last time, Madam."

Shang Ruyi was taken aback, then smiled at her.

What Chu Ruoyan was referring to was the time when she disguised herself as a eunuch and went to the Duke's mansion to see Yuwen Ye, and how she had made things convenient for the two of them. She hadn't expected that the woman would remember her and even thank her.

For some reason, it was her who felt awkward.

Thinking of this, she looked up and glanced at the princess again.

To be honest, Princess Xinyue's appearance, figure, and even her name had lingered in her heart and mind for countless years. But it seemed that this was the first time the two of them had officially met. Just like every fleeting glance in the past, she was still beautiful and charming, with a stunning appearance. Even up close, her beautiful face was flawless.

When she looked at herself, her expression was somewhat innocent and naive, but she did not have the arrogance of a pampered princess.

She does have a likable appearance.

Even the way the pearl pendant by her ear swayed as she spoke, slightly tilting her head, was breathtakingly beautiful to Shang Ruyi.

Yuwen Ye... has excellent taste.

No wonder Guan Yunmu couldn't offer the Changwan he had prepared.

Thinking about it this way, a faint smile appeared on her face, and she lowered her head and said, "Your Highness is too kind."

Empress Jiang looked at them calmly and said softly, "Please sit down."

So the two sat down again, and Empress Jiang said seriously, "Ruoyan, I already know about your disguise and leaving the palace. You did something wrong. Leaving the palace secretly is not something a princess should do. Going to the Duke's mansion in this way is disrespectful to the deceased."

"……yes."

"From now on, when you go to the Duke's mansion, you should properly request permission to go. You must never do such a thing again."

"Your subject understands."

Shang Ruyi sat to the side, and upon hearing these words, her heart skipped a beat.